Education round-up

Published Sat 14 Jan 2006

Issue No. 1983

March in Whitehall

A protest march on Whitehall against government education plans has been called by Ealing and Islington NUT teachers’ union branches, with the support of the Socialist Teachers Alliance, Islington Campaign Against Academies and many other activists.

“The grim reaper of neo-liberalism is about to strike dead comprehensive, public, democratic education in England,” says Ealing NUT secretary Nick Grant. “Tony Blair can destroy his party in the process of putting his White Paper before parliament if he so chooses. But parents, students and school employees are not going to sit around while he destroys our schools.”

“Everyone has a child, grandchild, niece, nephew, brother or sister who will be hit by Blair’s market madness—in every union, community organisation, tenants association or faith group,” added Ken Muller from Islington NUT “We want them all with us on 2 March.”

Bury

Seventy parents and children gave Bury councillors a grilling at the full council meeting before Christmas.

They were outraged at the plan to close up to eight secondary schools. The council claims the falling birth rate will mean 2,000 fewer places are needed.

The figures do not take account of the expanding population of the area as new homes are squeezed into every available corner. Redundancies across the workforce are also threatened.

Penny Hicks

Calderdale, Yorkshire

The minority of staff in the National Union of Teachers (NUT) at Hipperholme and Lightcliffe High school have won a brilliant victory after striking against pay cuts.

Members of the NASUWT union did not join the action, but will also benefit from the stand taken by the NUT. This follows other victories achieved by the threat of strikes across England. This should lead to more schools being prepared to ballot for strikes.